Clear Note Mechanical Licensing

Mechanical Licenses
Clear Note Publications

To encourage the fulfillment of our ultimate goal, that of introducing the creative work by the people we represent to musicians everywhere, in the hope that they will not only enjoy and perform it, but record it as well, we are making the process of acquiring a mechanical license as easy as possible.

What you will need to know.

Mechanical licensing is one of the means by which composers are paid for their work. A mechanical license is simply a document stating that you have purchased the rights to record a particular piece of music that is copyrighted, and that you intend to make a specific number of recordings of that music. Publishers like Clear Note and others, or affiliated organizations, like HFA are able issue mechanical licenses for the works they represent and pay the license fees to the composer.

If you would like to obtain mechanical licenses for works published by Clear Note for a recording you intend to make, of CDs, Cassettes, LPs, or Digital Downloads, please read the information below. These basic guidelines will help you understand which of our works need licensing, which do not and how to go about obtaining a mechanical license.

1. Editions of works that are in the public domain (no longer under copright laws) DO NOT require a mechanical license. Classic examples would be pieces written by composers from earlier times, such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven or Mendelssohn. Arrangements or transcriptions of music from the public domain DO NOT require mechanical licensing.

2. Recent new works that are copyrighted, and are not arrangements of pieces from the public domain, DO require a mechanical license.

(The duration of copyrights has varied from country to country and with the changing laws over time. For a complete explanation of the durations and legal issues of copyrights please read "Copyrights Basics" at www.copyright.gov)

Acquiring a mechanical license from Clear Note Publications.

To acquire a mechanical license for works published by Clear Note Publications take the following steps.

1. send us an e-mail at: ClearNote[insert @]Columbus.rr.com and include the title of the work and composer's name in the subject line. Provide us with a very brief explanation of your project and your contact information.

2. We will reply via e-mail with a simple form for you to fill out. This form provides us with the basic information we need to calculate the fee for your mechanical license.

3. Once you have returned the form to us, we will supply you with the calculated fee for your license and information about how to complete the process. Licenses can only be issued and recordings released when the fees are paid in full and all required information is on file.

As of January 1, 2006 the statutory mechanical rate is as follows:

$0.0910 for works 5 minutes or less
or
$0.175 per minute or fraction thereof over 5 minutes.

Some examples:

5:01 to 6:00 = $.105 (6 x $.0175 = $.105)
6:01 to 7:00 = $.1225 (7 x $.0175 = $.1225)
7:01 to 8:00 = $.14 (8 x $.0175 = $.14)

Example fee for one 5 minute 3 second work on 500 CDs:

ROYALTY FEE (BASED ON STATUTORY RATE): $52.50
PLAYING TIME: 5:03
QUANTITY OF COMPACT DISCS LICENSED: 500

On behalf of everyone we represent we thank you for taking the responsibility of seeing that artists get their due and we recommend the consideration of these issues and their expense before you start your next recording project.

Karl Wolff and Janet Best
Clear Note Publications